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Perceived indoor air quality, air-related symptoms and ventilation in Finnish hospitals

100%

Hellgren U.-M., Hyvärinen M., Holopainen R., Reijula K.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

2011

vol. 24

issue 1

48-56

Objectives: Good ventilation is more important in hospitals than in many other buildings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the condition, performance and modernity of ventilation systems on the perceived indoor air quality (IAQ) and the indoor air-related symptoms of hospital personnel. Materials and Methods: An inspection and evaluation graded on a 1 to 3 scale of the condition, performance, and modernity of the ventilation systems was carried out in ten central hospitals in Finland. The perceived IAQ and the related symptoms were collected by means of an indoor air questionnaire survey among the workers in these hospitals. Results: The condition, performance and modernity of the ventilation systems were good in 40% of the hospitals included in the research and poor in another 40% of them. In hospitals where the majority of the ventilation systems were assessed to be good, the prevalence of the indoor air-related complaints and symptoms was lower than in hospitals where the majority of the ventilation systems were assessed as needing extensive repairs. Conclusions: The condition and performance of the ventilation systems in hospitals had a significant impact on the perceived IAQ and the symptoms observed among the employees in Finnish hospitals. Therefore, it is important that hospital ventilation systems are maintained properly and regularly. Furthermore, they should be renovated, at the latest when their technical lifespan expires.

Perceived indoor air quality and psychosocial work environment in office, school and health care environments in Finland

75%

Tähtinen K., Remes J., Karvala K., Salmi K., Lahtinen M., Reijula K.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

2020

vol. 33

issue 4

479-495

ObjectivesThe study examined the extent and prevalence of perceived indoor environment-related (IE-related) symptoms environmental complaints and psychosocial work environmental factors in Finnish office, school and health care environments.Material and MethodsThe data were collected from non-industrial workplaces (N = 455) in 2011–2012 and 2015–2017 using the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health’s Indoor Air Questionnaire (IA Questionnaire). Suspicion of IE-related problems was reported in 59% of workplaces. The data consisted of 28 826 employees’ responses.ResultsThe employees reported symptoms and environmental discomfort in office environments less often than in school or health care environments. The most often reported IE-related complaints were stuffy air (39% of respondents), dry air (34%) and insufficient ventilation (33%). The most often reported symptoms were irritation of the nose (27% of respondents), irritation of the eyes (26%), and hoarse or dry throat (24%). The results showed differences between the perceived IE in office, school and health care environments.ConclusionsCompared to earlier findings, the most often perceived IE-related symptoms and complaints have increased in Finnish health care environments. The office employees’ perceptions of psychosocial work environment remained fairly unchanged whereas health care personnel more often assessed their psychosocial environment as positive compared to previous reports. Instead of exact reference values, comparing the results of IA Questionnaires with the distributions and mean values of the results of this study may be more informative for those striving to solve IE-related problems. The presented distribution and mean values of perceived symptoms, environmental complaints and psychosocial work environment might help to relate the results to other workplaces. This, in turn, might increase the understanding that IA Questionnaire results are influenced by many factors. The results presented can be used as new reference material when interpreting the results of IA Questionnaires in office, school and health care environments.

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2 International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

2 Reijula K.

1 Hellgren U.-M.

1 Holopainen R.

1 Hyvärinen M.

1 Karvala K.

1 Lahtinen M.

1 Remes J.

1 Salmi K.

1 Tähtinen K.

1 2020

1 2011

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Perceived indoor air quality, air-related symptoms and ventilation in Finnish hospitals

Perceived indoor air quality and psychosocial work environment in office, school and health care environments in Finland